Margaret Nolan

Margaret Nolan
Nolan inGoldfinger(1964)
Born	Margaret Ann Nolan (1943-10-29)29 October 1943 Hampstead,London, England
Died	5 October 2020(2020-10-05)(aged 76) Belsize Park,London, England
Other names	Vicky Kennedy
Occupation(s)	Actress, visual artist, model
Years active	1962–2020
Spouses	Tom Kempinski ​ ​ (m.1967;div.1972)​ Michael O’Sullivan ​ ​ (m.1974, divorced)​
Partner(s)	Colin Deeks (?–2020; her death)
Children	2

Margaret Ann Nolan(29 October 1943 – 5 October 2020) was an English actress, visual artist andglamour model.She appeared inGoldfinger,A Hard Day's Nightand sixCarry Onfilms, and also regularly appeared on screen from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Early life

Nolan was born inHampstead,London.Her mother Molly (née O'Sullivan) was an English nurse and her father Jack was an Irish army clerk. They spent the duration of the Second World War inCounty Waterfordin Ireland until the war ended in 1945 before returning to Hampstead. Nolan began training as a teacher but began datingTom Kempinski,who was acting with theNational Theatre Companyat the time and persuaded her to begin a career in acting.

Career

Modelling career

Margaret Nolan began her career as a model. As her glamour modelling career took off, she was briefly known asVicky Kennedyin the early 1960s.

Acting career

Nolan reverted to her birth name as soon as she began to find acting roles, appearing in numerous television shows, theatre productions and films. The latter includedA Hard Day's Nightwiththe Beatles,Ferry Cross the MerseywithGerry and the Pacemakers,andMarcel Carné'sThree Rooms in Manhattan.Nolan also appeared in one of the first episodes of the television spy thrillerThe SaintwithRoger Moore.

Nolan played the role of Dink, Bond's masseuse, in theJames BondfilmGoldfingerreleased in 1964. She was also painted gold and wore a gold bikini forRobert Brownjohn's title-sequence, advertisements and soundtrack-cover (notShirley Eatonas in the narrative of the film). This led to photographs inPlayboymagazine'sJames Bond's Girlsedition of November 1965. In the filmCarry On at Your Convenience(1971), composer Eric Rogers referenced Nolan'sGoldfingeraffiliation by using its three-note motif on a close-up of her. Nolan appeared on the front cover of both the US and UK versions of the 2005 bookRobert Brownjohn: Sex and Typography.In 2012, Nolan gave her first interview concerning her experiences as the model. Asked if the imagery liberates or celebrates womanhood, Nolan responded that:

It does celebrate the physical form. If I'd been nude it might have been about liberation because up to that point you wouldn't have seen a nude woman in a publicly visible thing like that. I could have been very pretentious and said this is liberating. But because I was dressed-up anyway I didn't get that sense.

It became the first film-title to be shown in installation atMoMA,New York (2012).

On appearing inMichael Pertwee's farceShe's Done It Againat London'sGarrick Theatrein 1969, Nolan was described as combining "a long list of physical attractions with a talent that has contributed to the success of many films and television plays".She was known for five BBC series withSpike Milliganand in 2013 published a short essay on her time working with him. Nolan gave a live reading of the work at thePoetry Societyin Covent Garden, reviewed byWhat's On Londonas a "deeply-personal memoir... her performance simply magical."She spoke of her awareness of Milligan's depressive character but also of their friendly working relationship; noting that "Professionally, he taught me that timing is what makes things funny. Timing is crucial."Nolan was cast in severalCarry On filmsincludingCarry On Girls(1973). The film contains the scene of Nolan (in a silver bikini) andBarbara Windsorcat-fighting on a hotel floor.

Nolan also appeared in serious theatre, motivated by political themes.In 2011, Nolan's work as a comedy actress was recognised with her name included on Gordon Young'sComedy Carpetinstallation in front ofBlackpool Tower.Also in 2011, Nolan returned to the screen after a gap of nearly three decades. She starred in a role especially written for her by Ann Cameron, in Yvonne Deutschman'sThe Power of Three.

In 2019,Edgar Wrightcast her in his 2021 filmLast Night in Soho.It was Nolan's final film appearance.

Art career

In 1991, Nolan moved toAndalusiain Spain to a rural farmhouse in the mountains where she practisedpermaculture.It was here that she became a visual artist.

As a visual artist, Nolan produced graphic and sometimes grotesque photo-montages assembled from cut-outs of her early publicity photographs.These pieces concern "a unique and personal dialogue intrinsically related to a view of a woman and how a woman is viewed."She exhibited in London at venues including the Brick Lane Gallery (2009), The Misty Moon Gallery (2013) and Gallery Different (2013), whilst a screen-print is held by Kemistry Gallery.In 2007, Nolan moved back to London.

In 2009, early publicity shots of Nolan inspired screen-prints by Brighton-based graffiti artist Hutch.Nolan's work in photo-montage was also selected for the front cover ofPlayeristpoetry magazine(No. 2, 2012).In 2013, her artworks featured in the group showequals: exploring feminism through art and conversationat Blankspace Manchester;the press release quoting that: "Her voice carries alongside universal debate on socio-sexual hierarchies in the age of mass media."

Personal life and death

Nolan was married to English playwrightTom Kempinskiin 1967 and divorced in 1972. She had two sons.

Nolan died of cancer on 5 October 2020 at her home inBelsize Park,London, at age 76.She had sought to write a memoir withPaul Stenning.

Filmography

Nolan's acting career covers works in television and cinema.

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1964	It's a Bare, Bare World!	Vicki
	The Four Poster	Girl	Short film
	Saturday Night Out	Julie
	A Hard Day's Night	Girl at Casino
	The Beauty Jungle	Caroline
	Goldfinger	Dink
1965	Ferry Cross the Mersey	Norah
	Three Rooms in Manhattan	June
	Carry On Cowboy	Miss Jones
1966	Promise Her Anything	Mail-Order Film Girl
	The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery	Susie Naphill
1967	Bikini Paradise	Margarita
1968	Witchfinder General	Girl at Inn	Billed as Maggie Nolan in end credits
	Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River	Spink's nurse
1969	Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?	Little Assistance
	Crooks and Coronets	Girlfriend
	The Best House in London	Busty Prostitute
1970	Toomorrow	Johnson
1971	Carry On Henry	Buxom Lass
	Carry On at Your Convenience	Popsy
1972	Frenzy	Young Woman	(scene cut)
	Carry On Matron	Mrs Tucker
1973	No Sex Please, We're British	Barbara
	Carry On Girls	Dawn Brakes
1974	Carry On Dick	Lady Daley
1983	Positions of Power	Elizabeth Nihell	Short film
1986	Sky Bandits	Waitress
2011	The Power of Three	Dame Margaret
2021	Last Night in Soho	Sage Barmaid	Posthumous release

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1963	The Saint	Daisy	Episode: "Iris"
1964	ITV Play of the Week	Space Hostess	Episode: "Deep and Crisp and Stolen"
1965	Danger Man	Mrs Elliot	Episode: "Parallel Lines Sometimes Meet"
1965	199 Park Lane	Martine	3 episodes
1965	Buddenbrooks	Babette	Episode: "Lengthening Shadows"
1966	Thirty-Minute Theatre	Eve	Episode: "The Enchanted Night"
1966	Hugh and I	Dolly	Episode: "Goodbye Dolly"
1966	The World of Wooster	Mabel	Episode: "Jeeves Exerts the Old Cerebellum"
1966	Theatre 625	Fantasy Girl	Episode: "A Man Like That"
1966	Take a Pair of Private Eyes	Doreen	3 episodes
1966	The Newcomers	Mercedes	17 episodes
1966	Adam Adamant Lives!	Sadie	Episode: "More Deadly than the Sword"
1967	Armchair Theatre	Au Pair	Episode: "Compensation Alice"
1967	After Many a Summer	Girl	TV film
1967	The Wednesday Play	Margie	"Death of a Private"
1968	Nearest and Dearest	Nemone Moore	Episode: "Take a Letter"
1968	Mystery and Imagination	Vampire	Episode:"Dracula"(1968) Credited as: Marie Legrand
1969	The World of Beachcomber	Various	4 episodes
1969	Run a Crooked Mile	Secretary	TV film
1970	Brian Rix Presents...	Melissa	Episode: "Clutterbuck"
1970	The Adventures of Don Quick	Dulcie	Episode: "The Benefits of Earth"
1971	Brian Rix Presents...	Pat Thompson	Episode: "Reluctant Heroes"
1971–1972	Budgie	Inga	3 episodes
1971	The Persuaders!	Sophie	Episode: "Element of Risk"
1971	Brian Rix Presents...	Sylvia	Episode: "She's Done It Again!"
1971	Mr. Tumbleweed	Leading Huntress	TV film
1972	Steptoe and Son	Nemone Wagstaff	Episode: "A Star is Born"
1972	New Scotland Yard	Gudrun Lindblom	Episode: "Evidence of Character"
1972	My Wife Next Door	Myra	Episode: "Pregnant Moment"
1973	Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?	Jackie	Episode: "I'll Never Forget Whatshername"
1973	Crown Court	Angela Mercer	3 episodes
1973	The Moon Shines Bright on Charlie Chaplin	Stella	TV film
1973	Black and Blue	Lynda Cherry	Episode: "The Middle-of-the-Road Roadshow for All the Family"
1973	Men of Affairs	Gloria	Episode: "Horseface"
1973	Last of the Summer Wine	Connie	Episode: "Pâté and Chips"
1974	Late Night Drama	Gillian	Episode: "M + M"
1975	The Sweeney	Betty	Episode: "Thin Ice"
1975	Q6	Various	3 episodes
1976	I Didn't Know You Cared	Barmaid	Episode: "The Way My Wife Looks at Me"
1980	Fox	Sheila Fox	3 episodes
1981	Brideshead Revisited	Effie	Episode: "The Bleak Light of Day"
1981	Charlie Was a Rich Man	Unknown	TV film
1983	Crown Court	Frances O'Reilly	Episode: "Sword in the Hand of David: Part 1"
1983	Crossroads	Denise Paget	Unknown episodes

Theatre

Fringe Why Bournemouth?(1968) It Has No Choice A Minor Scene Homo Stimulation Super Santa How the Vote Was Won(1986) Daughters of Men(1986)

Provincial The Bacchae(1970) Bus Stop(Cherie) (1970) Who Goes Bare(1970) Murder in the Office(1972) Not Now, Darling(1973) Don't Look Now(1974) Under the Hill(Aubrey Beardsley) (1976)

West End The Giveaway(1969) Adam's Apple(1970) She's Done It Again(1970)

Bibliography

• Hadoke, T (2020)Margaret Nolan obituaryGuardian Media GroupISSN0261-3077
• King, E (2005)Robert Brownjohn: Sex and Typography 1925–1970UK: KingISBN185669464X.US: PrincetonISBN1568985509
• Mele, C (2020)Margaret Nolan, ‘Goldfinger’ Actress, Dies at 76The New York Times CompanyISSN0362-4331
• Ross, R (1996)The Carry On CompanionBatsfordISBN0713479671
• Ross, R (1999) 'Carry On' UncensoredBoxtreeISBN0752217984
• Ross, R (2011) 'Carry On' ActorsApexISBN1906358958
• Sheridan, R (2007)Keeping the British End Up: Four Decades of Saucy CinemaReynolds and HearnISBN0857682792
• Slidel, M (2012)Margaret Nolan InterviewPlayerist No. 2, Martin SlidelISSN2048-2515
• Snelgrove, K (2008)Official Carry On Facts, Figures and StatisticsApexISBN1906358095
• Webber, R (2008)Fifty Years of Carry OnCenturyISBN1844138437

External links

• Margaret Nolan: Official websiteArchived20 July 2018 at theWayback Machine
• Margaret NolanatIMDb
• Margaret Nolan 2007 interview at "Den of Geek" website
• Margaret Nolan 2012 interview at "Playerist" website